PTI govt established a task force to bring back looted money: Asad Umar

Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Asad Umar Monday said that the government had constituted a task force to bring back the looted money which had been stashed abroad illegally.

Responding to the budget debate of the Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, he lamented that the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) government did not take any action against the looters, money launderers, who had stashed the looted money abroad.

The PTI government in its first cabinet meeting had decided to bring the looted money back, he said. The minister said a special assistant had also been appointed for the purpose.

He said the government had increased gas prices for the rich and only 10 per cent increase had been announced for lifeline consumers of the natural gas. While a 143 per cent increase in gas tariff had been announced for the rich consumers. The government would ensure the poor were not burdened, he added.

He said that Rs 154 billion deficit in gas sector was the gift of previous PML-N government. The Government had reduced the tax ratio on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by 10 per cent from 30 per cent. The gas price effects would not be passed on the farmers.

The LNG prices for Punjab exporters had been increased manifold, consequently, 500,000 labours had lost their jobs, he added. The Government would pay a subsidy to avoid burdening the farmers, he added.